Websnare's Blog

Be Wary of Overdesign

Some design philosophy posits that the design of something should go almost unnoticed because it functions so well that everything else besides the intended function is transparent and unobtrusive. This method of design which focuses on user experience over all else can take many forms: not everything needs to adhere to the ultra-minimal modern aesthetic, but if it can be used easily by the target audience, or even better yet a wide portion of the population, then it is a successful design. Adding more aesthetic elements can become superfluous is they do not fulfill any functional roles. Each addition to a page’s layout adds an element that will demand some attention - adding too many elements can distract from important calls-to-action and navigational items. In short, a website should strive to be aesthetically pleasing, but functionality should rule the day in most design decisions.